So you're not a big safety glasses fan???

[Jim]

Not me - but holy cow!!!

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h374/ejworthen13/Mobile%20Uploads/1483766456924.jpg

[dieseldoc]

I wear mine all the time, things like this happen very fast.

[Swank1975]

Wear your glasses.

[Chris]

I think any of us that worked with steel for any length of time became devoted users of safety glasses. I expected a couple ER visits every year to get a bit removed from an eye when I was welding. Even with good glasses bits bounce around and find home if doing a fair amount of grinding.

I always knew that when I woke up at 3am that I was headed to the ER. :oops:

[Spieg]

No doubt! And an FYI - Once you've had metal fragments in your eye, you can never get an MRI at the doctor without risking serious damage to your eye(s). I've heard tales of what happens when the magnetic field starts moving slivers around in your eye...

[Brucker]

No doubt! And an FYI - Once you've had metal fragments in your eye, you can never get an MRI at the doctor without risking serious damage to your eye(s). I've heard tales of what happens when the magnetic field starts moving slivers around in your eye...

It's a must to tell the doctors your past injuries if they don't have access to your medical records. But the above statement isn't quite true, and never is a bold statement. I have had to have my eyes worked on twice because of metal finding it's way into them, and yes, both times I was wearing "proper" PPE. I have since had multiple MRI's and CAT scans. All it takes is a set of orbital x-rays to check for any missed metal and if you are cleared after that, you are good to go.

I am beginning to think I have spent WAY too much time at a doctors' office...

[Chris]

As I recall, the initial form you have to fill out asks if you've ever done metal work. Answer "yes" and you get the additional eye check or verify you've had an MRI/CT before. I've had plenty of those so I breeze through these days.

Having an MRI with metal in your eye would be gruesome!

[Spieg]

My understanding is that x-ray is not 100% (some small fraction of a % will miss something). Many eye doctors will dissuade patients with this history from having an MRI except for life threatening situations.

[newracer]

I had an MRI recently and was not asked about metal work.

[newracer]

Also when grinding/cutting you should wear glasses and a shield.

[Hypoid]

Good info about MRIs!

The cautionary tale I was told about untreated fragments, was a "tough guy" who neglected medical treatment, until the infection set in. The story goes that he wears an eye patch now...

[Spieg]

My nephew is an Ophthalmologist and does surgery about twice a month to try and repair damage done during an MRI. Not uncommon to lose vision if not the whole eye.

[Chris]

My understanding is that x-ray is not 100% (some small fraction of a % will miss something). Many eye doctors will dissuade patients with this history from having an MRI except for life threatening situations.

In my case they used an opthamologist tool of some type that can view the entirety of the eyeball. Pretty much like they used prior to my eye surgery.


I had an MRI recently and was not asked about metal work.

I'll guess you had a previous MRI on record where they did ask. If not I'm glad you didn't find out you did have a piece by the MRI removing it.

[Jim]

So, a metal-eye question: Are the metal bits IN the eyeball itself or only sitting outside the eyeball somewhere in the eye socket? I can't imagine a metal bit getting fully into the eyeball itself w/o it being a major issue (loss of the eye itself).

[Chris]

I can't speak for anyone but myself but mine have always been cornea injuries. Typically just need the foriegn object removed and some topical antibiotic. Eyes heal very fast.

Most parents are also familiar with cornea cuts from getting poked in the eye but their very young kids.

[Chris]

Years ago Brody told me to get the strongest magnet I could find and when I got, or suspected I had a piece of metal in my eye, to use the magnet to pull it out. I was skeptical but found it worked very well. My eye doctor wasn't too thrilled that I did it but admitted it works and suggested that I should still use the anti-biotic and have it looked at by a professional. :D

[newracer]

I'll guess you had a previous MRI on record where they did ask. If not I'm glad you didn't find out you did have a piece by the MRI removing it.

First and only MRI I have ever had. Maybe I don't remember the question because I was in so much pain but I do remember them asking me if I had any metal implants or devices. Also went through a metal detector and was screened with a wand metal detector.

[Chris]

I never thought of a metal detector of any kind, pretty good idea. Pain has a way of taking away a guys memory! I'm guessing this led to your microdiscectomy.

[dscowell]

I have four labs this semester and we are required to pass a lab safety quiz before participating. The two things they make sure to drill into your brain are call 911 if someone is critically hurt and TO WEAR YOUR SAFETY GLASSES. They have a couple slide shows to read over before you take the quiz, out of the 5/6 slide shows I went through I probably say wear your safety glasses come up 20 times. It's also I required by the school that if you don't have them on during a lab you can't participate and they will kick you out. Also working this summer all the employees were required to wear safety glasses and I can recall a couple times where my eyes would have been at the least in a lot of pain if I didn't have them on.

[Brian]

If you get an MRI they will ask about metal or medical implants, or have a questionnaire about it. Most medical implants are titanium so they are non magnetic. However, not all implants are MRI safe, some are considered MRI conditional. They may not be magnetic but are susceptible to heating up during the MRI. I've got prosthetic bones of hearing and I have an MRI safety card I have to carry with me to the MRI lab. The tech can reference the device number for my prosthetics and knows how long I can be exposed to the MRI before steam starts coming out my ears :lmao: . They can chose between shorter exposure or turning down the power to get the image safely.

[newracer]

I never thought of a metal detector of any kind, pretty good idea. Pain has a way of taking away a guys memory! I'm guessing this led to your microdiscectomy.

You would be correct.